Fulcrum for brake beams



Feb. 20,1923.

1,445,881 w. c. HEDGCOCK FULCRUM FOR BRAKE BEAMS '2 sheetssheet 1 Filed Nov. 5, 1921 ive/i2 5?- WdZZam 6 159039600 4 Feb. 20, 1923.

W. C. HEDGCOCK FULCRUIV! FOR BRAKE BEAMS 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Nov.

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Patented Feb. 20, 1923.

marine s'ra'rss WILLIAM C. HEDGCOCK, OF CHICAGO,

1 lAtSgSSl FOUNDRIES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF-NEW JERSEY.

FULCRUIVE FOR BRAKE BEAMS.

Application filed November 3, 1921. 'Serial No. 512,437.

Brake Beams, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fulcrums for brake beams and is an improvement on the arrangement disclosed in my co-pending applica-tion, Serial No. 490,504, filed August In said co-pending application among other things was disclosed'a tension rod saddle having wing portions for embracing the bent end portion of the main body of a fulcrum for the purpose of preventing rotation of said saddle on said main body portion. While this arangement is satis factory, it is desired to position and retain the saddle member more definitely and positively on the main fulcrum body for facilitating the assembling meeting more'successfully the commercial requirements.

Accordingly, one object of the invention is to provide a brake beam fulcrum of the same general type referred to in said copending. application, and including a main fulcrum body and'a tension rod saddle having parts which cooperate to position and maintain same in cooperative relationship during assembling'of thefulcrum and while in service.

Another object is to provide a simple, durable and efficient brake beam fulcrum including a tension rod saddle having parts for embracing the main body portion of the fulcrum in a novel manner to prevent'relative movement between said parts.

Another object is to provide a simple and eficient combination tension rod saddle and brake beam third point support arrangement adapted to meet the various requirements for successful commercial opera tion. 1

These and other objects are accomplished by means of the arrangement disclosed on the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which: I

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a brake beam fulcrum embodying my invention;

a citizen of the United States, resid-' of said parts and for ILLINOIS, AS SIGNLOR TO AMERICAN STEEL Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the same brakebeam fulcrum;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation I of the same brake beam fulcrum showing modified means for securing the tens on rod saddle to the main body portion;

Figures 5 and 6 are respectively frag mentarytop planand showing my invention applied to a different form of tension rod saddle; 1

Figures 7 and 8 respectively are fragside elevational views l mentary top plan and side elevational views of a further modification of my invention; and i a Figures 9.--and 10 are respectively fragmentarytop planand side elevational views showing my invention applied to a different form of tensionrod saddle.

The various novel features of'my invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings and will-be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the figures of the drawings, it will'be noted that the main body portion 10 of the fulcrum is in strip of metal bent atits. middle'point 11, forming spaced arms 12 for the reception of a brake beam lever to the arms by a. pivot pin, not shown,-received in the openings 13. The arms 12 are offset angularly with respect to the. rear portions 14-. of the arms which terminate'in laterally extending feet 15whereby the fulcrum may be secured topthe compression member of thebrake beam. In al-l of the arrangements disclosed by the'drawings the tension rod saddle may 'bejsecuredto the which may :be pivoted" the form .of a single main body portion of the-fulcrum in substantially the same manner, for example, the curved end 11 of the fulcrumis provided with'an aperture 16 through which a rivet 17 may extend for attaching the tension rod saddle to the main body portion of the brake beam fulcrum. the tension rod'saddle maybe provided with an integrally formed projection 18 as shown in Figure 41-, which may be split and bent over at the inside of the loop portion 11 of the fulcrum. If desired, other securing means may beused. 4

It will be noted in all figures of the drawings that the tension rod saddle 19 has However, if desired, I

the main body portions elongated curved wings 20 which conform to the bend in the fulcrum body at the point 11 and also have straight portions which extend longitudinally along the arms 12 of 10 thereby giving said wings a relatively large embracing hold on the main body portion of the fulcrum to positively prevent a rotation of the saddle on said main body portion. These wings are of material assistance in locking and maintaining the tension rod saddle in operative position with respect to the main body portion of the fulcrum while the parts are being assembled and, of course, are effective when the fulcrum is in actual service.

To further assist in positioning; the tension rod saddle on the main body portion of the fulcrum and for maintaining it in such position, and particularly for preventing an edgewise movement rod saddle with respect to the main body portion of the fulcrum, the former is provided with rearwardly extending earsQl which are intermediate the wings 20 and which overlap the upper and lower edges of the loop portion 11 of the main body portion of the fulcrum. By means of the rearwardly extending embracingwings 20 and projections 21 the tension rod saddle and main body portion of the fulcrum are positively positioned one with respect to the other and maintained in such position, which greatly facilitates the assembling operation of the fulcrum and which function to ad vantage in the normal use of the brake beam fulcrum in service. Thewings 20 are arranged 180 degrees with respect to each other and 90 degrees with respect to the proj ections 21 around the tension saddle so that all sides of the main body portion of the fulcrum are embraced.

In Figures 5 and 6 the tension rod saddle is shown as provided with a third point suspension hanger attachment 22 preferably formed integrally with the tension rod saddle proper.

In Figures 9 and 10 a modified form of attachment 2?) for a third point suspension hanger is shown in which the eye opening 2a for the hanger is in advance of the seat 25 for the tension rod, whereas in the arrangement shown in Figures 5 and 6 the eye portions 26 for the hanger are located above the seat portion 25 for the tension rod.

In Figures 7 and 8 I have shown integrally formed with the tension rod saddle 'hereinabove described, a projecting seat 27 for a third point-brake beam support. This seat is inclined and is to slide upon any suitable supporting bar or bracket 28 in a mannerto maintain this truss type of brake beam in a balanced condition, so that the brake shoes when applied tothe associated truck wheels will be presented in substantial I co'ncentricity therewith.

of the tension It is my intention to cover all modifications of the invention falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A brake beam fulcrum comprising a main body having a front curved portion, a

tension'rod saddle having wings embracing said curved portion and extending longitudinally along the sides of the main body portion to prevent rotation of one with respect to the other, and means for securing said saddle to said main body portion.

2. A brake beam fulcrum comprising a main body portion in the form of a strip of metal bent intermediate its ends to form two parallel arms between which a brake beam lever may be mounted, a separate tension rod saddle having a bearing portion formed to the bent end of the main body portion and terminating in longitudinally extending wings extending along and embracing the sides of said parallel arms to prevent rotation of the saddle on said main body portion, and means for securing said saddle to said main body portion.

3. A brake beam fulcrum comprising a main body having a front curved portion, a tension rod saddle having wings embracing said curved portion and extending longitudinally thereof to prevent rotation of one with respect to the other, said tension rod saddle also havin means cooperating with said main body portion to prevent 'edgewise movementof one withrespect to the other, and means for securing said saddle to said main body portion.

i. A brake beam main body portion inthe form of a strip of metal bent intermediate its ends to form two parallel arms between which a brake beam lever may be mounted, a separate tension rod saddle having a bearing portion formed to the bent end of the main body portion and terminating in longitudinally extending wings embracing the sides ofsaid parallel arms to prevent rotation of the saddle on said main body portion, said tensionrod saddle having projections cooperating with said main body portion for preventing edgewise movement of one with respect to the other, and means for securing said saddle to said main body portion.

5. A brake beam fulcrum comprising a fulcrum comprising a main body portion in the form of a strip of metal bent intermediate its ends to form two a parallel arms between which a brake lever may be mounted, a separate tension rod saddle having a bearing surface formed to the bent end of the main body portion and ter- Wise movement between said saddle and main fulcrum body. i

6. A brake beam fulcrum comprising a main body portion, and a tension rodsaddle having four rearwardly extending portions for embracing said main body portion to prevent relative movements between said main body portion and said tension rod saddle.

7 A brake beam fulcrum comprising a main body having a curved front end portion and a tension rod saddle having portions fitting and embracing said curved portion and having a third point support seat below the main body portion whereby the vbrake beam. p

Signed at Chicago, Illinois this 28thday of October, 1921;

brake, beammay be maintained in balance. 8; A brake beam fulcrum comprising a main body having a front curved portion and a tension rod saddle fitting said curved portion and having a plurality of projections embracing said main body portion to prevent relative movement therebetween and having integrally formed therewith be-' low the tensionrod receiving portion a seat providing a third point support for the a ILLIAM C. HEDGCOGK. 

